The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

By Susan Kuczka, Courtney Flynn and John Mullin
Tribune staff reporters

December 14, 2006, 6:35 PM CST


Lake County officials this afternoon filed misdemeanor gun possession charges against Chicago Bears player Terry "Tank" Johnson following a raid at his far north suburban residence.

He was charged with six misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of a weapon after police found six weapons in his home. Police say he lacked a Firearm Owner's Identification Card in violation of state law.



Johnson posted $100 bond on an arrest warrant issued for him following the raid on his home. His friend, Willie Posey, was charged with illegal possession of marijuana, a Class 4 felony, authorities said at a news conference.

Johnson, a third-year defensive tackle who has been a key player in the Bears' Super Bowl drive, was at the team's practice in Lake Forest when more than two dozen police officers arrived at his home on Delany Road in Gurnee at about 11 a.m., authorities said.

Johnson, whose girlfriend and two children also were home at the time of the raid, declined to discuss the police search of his home before leaving Halas Hall this afternoon.

Johnson has had two previous run-ins with police since he joined the Bears from the University of Washington.

He has a previous illegal gun possession conviction on his record.

Bears Coach Lovie Smith said this afternoon that Johnson was with the team the entire day.

"I know that a search warrant was executed, put into play, on his home today. ... I found out about it a little while before practice," the coach said. "He is cooperating right now."

"We're disappointed in the situation that's come up right now," he continued. "It's a distraction for the team and all of that, but I'll get more details and go from there."

The Bears already are without one starting defensive tackle because of the ruptured hamstring injury suffered by Tommie Harris that sent him to injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

What, if anything, the NFL may do in the Johnson situation remains to be seen. The league suspended cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. for the Nov. 26 game at New England because of a no-contest plea in a felony assault case but the suspension came months after the incident and a meeting between Manning and league officials. The NFL typically waits until some resolution is reached in legal proceedings.

Last March, prosecutors dropped battery and resisting arrest charges filed against Johnson in February when a police officer who scuffled with Johnson outside a Rush Street nightclub refused to proceed with the case, authorities said.

His February arrest also led violation of probation charges to be filed against Johnson, who had been placed on 18 months probation November 2005 after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor unlawful gun possession charge.

The violation charges were dismissed when the battery case was dropped, prosecutors said.

Johnson, a third-year defensive tackle out of the University of Washington who celebrated 25th birthday on Dec. 7, has 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks this season.

Bears withholding judgment on Johnson's status

His arrest on Thursday, along with the six misdemeanor counts of possession of a firearm without an identification card, will bring Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson under NFL scrutiny under terms of the league's personal conduct policy.

But unless Bears officials decide to impose team sanctions against the three-year veteran, Johnson's latest legal entanglement might not alter his playing status for the rest of this season.

A league official told ESPN.com on Thursday night that the NFL was aware of Johnson's arrest but was still gathering information. In such cases, the NFL typically delays any action until a player is provided due process through the legal system, and that could take months.

The Bears could take action, by either fining or suspending Johnson, but on Thursday evening coach Lovie Smith did not appear inclined to make a quick decision on the defensive tackle's status. That could mean Johnson plays in the Bears' game against Tampa Bay on Sunday.

"Tank's status right now is just like it was before," Smith said. "As I get [more] information, I'll make decisions from there."

A team source said the Bears probably would have no determination on Johnson's status before Friday.

Johnson, 25, has started the past 10 games at nose tackle for the Bears, after winning the job from Ian Scott following the first three games of the year. His loss, combined with the season-ending hamstring surgery on starting under tackle Tommie Harris on Tuesday, would leave Chicago without both interior starters. It would also further thin what was regarded earlier in the season as one of the NFL's deepest line units.

"If we would lose Tank, or any of our other defensive linemen, that would put us down to seven [linemen on the roster]," Smith said. "That would make it more difficult, but it is a strong group that we have. We have other good players that we feel comfortable playing."

Johnson is in the third season of a five-year contract and his 2006 base salary is $425,000.

LAKE FOREST (Dec. 15, 2006) -- Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson will sit out Week 15's game against Tampa Bay after he was charged with possessing firearms without proper identification.

Coach Lovie Smith said he wasn't punishing Johnson but was picking the players who give the NFC North champion Bears the best chance to win.

Johnson practiced Dec. 15 and held a brief news conference, apologizing to his teammates and family.

"I hate to be a deterrent from all the good that's going on here at Halas Hall," the nose tackle said.

General manager Jerry Angelo said the Bears were embarrassed by the latest incident involving Johnson.

"He's had now a history of doing things," Angelo said. "That history has got to stop."

It is the third legal run-in for the Bears' 2004 second-round draft pick.

In November 2005, Johnson was sentenced to 18 months' probation and 40 hours community service after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an arrest in which a nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his sport utility vehicle.

Johnson also was arrested last February after a confrontation outside a Chicago nightclub, but the charges were dropped after the police officer he allegedly scuffled with decided not to pursue the case.

Gurnee police executed a warrant and searched Johnson's home Dec. 14, finding six guns.

Two of the weapons seized were assault-style rifles, an AR-15 and a .223 caliber, said Gurnee Police Chief Robert Jones. Three were powerful handguns -- a .44 Magnum, a .50 caliber, and a .45 caliber -- and one was a .308 Winchester hunting rifle, Jones said.

Police said during the search they also found 2 1/4 ounces of marijuana and arrested Willie B. Posey, 26, on a count of felony cannabis possession. Posey's relationship with Johnson was not immediately clear. Jones said Posey lived at the house.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the situation would be reviewed under the terms of the league's personal conduct policy.

Johnson is due in court Jan. 9, which would be several days before the Bears' first playoff game. They have a bye in the first round.

BearSkins wrote:And here is the link. http://www.nbc5.com/news/10551977/detail.html

Another source close to the investigation told NBC5 that everyone entering the Ice Bar Friday night was searched for weapons except Johnson's entourage.

SKOKIE, Ill. -- Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson has left a Cook County courthouse after posting $100,000 bond.

But Judge John Moran says Johnson must stay home except to work until it's determined whether his arrest violated his probation on a 2005 gun charge. Johnson also can't travel outside Illinois without permission.

Johnson was briefly taken into custody before the hearing. He wasn't handcuffed and didn't speak at the hearing.

Defense attorney Lorna Propes said Johnson wants to be the best possible representative of the team in the future.

Johnson was arrested Dec. 14 following a raid on his home. Authorities say they found a semi-automatic rifle with 19 live rounds in the master bedroom, four unloaded weapons in a closet and a loaded gun in the basement.

Less than 48 hours later, Johnson was at a Chicago bar when his friend was shot and killed.

NFL.com wire reports

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (Jan. 9, 2007) -- Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor weapons charges after a police raid on his home last month.



Johnson, dressed in a suit and tie, did not speak during the Lake County court hearing before Judge Theodore Potkonjak. Defense attorney Tom Briscoe entered the plea for him. His next court date in Lake County is set for Feb. 16.

Johnson was arrested Dec. 14 after police raided his Gurnee home. It was his third arrest in 18 months.

He faces 10 counts of possession of firearms without the required state gun-owner identification card; prosecutors say six weapons were in the home and the other counts relate to ammunition found there.

Less than 48 hours after his arrest, Johnson was at a Chicago bar when his friend and bodyguard, Willie B. Posey, was shot and killed. Posey also had been arrested on drug possession charges when police raided Johnson's home.

The Bears suspended Johnson one game for being at the club.

Briscoe, speaking outside court, said Johnson is doing well under the circumstances and is trying to focus on his job with the Bears.

"We're confident we have a defense to this," Briscoe said. "The facts will show he's done nothing wrong."

Lake County assistant state's attorney Mary Stanton said prosecutors believe in the strength of the evidence.

"One of the loaded rifles was found in (Johnson's) own bedroom," she said.

If found guilty on the Lake County gun charges, Johnson faces a maximum sentence of a year in jail.

The judge granted a defense request to allow Johnson to travel freely outside the state, which contradicts the order of a Cook County judge.

Authorities in Cook County have alleged that Johnson's arrest violated his earlier probation terms on a 2005 gun charge.

A Cook County judge has ordered Johnson to stay at home except to go to work, and ruled that he needs permission to leave Illinois. The next hearing in that probation-violation case is scheduled for Jan. 23.

BearSkins wrote:Final upshot is that Tank gets 120 days in the tabk.

Hopefully his days as a Bears player are numbered.

1niksder wrote:

BearSkins wrote:Final upshot is that Tank gets 120 days in the tabk.

Hopefully his days as a Bears player are numbered.

He'll do about 60 and the Bears have already said he'll be back (after his NFL suspension).

SkinsJock wrote:

1niksder wrote:

BearSkins wrote:Final upshot is that Tank gets 120 days in the tabk.

Hopefully his days as a Bears player are numbered.

He'll do about 60 and the Bears have already said he'll be back (after his NFL suspension).

Does this also get some "attention" from the NFL?

SkinsJock wrote:If (hopefully, when) the NFL suspend him, is he still allowed to be with and practice with the team? After he gets out of jail, that is?

1niksder wrote:

BearSkins wrote:Final upshot is that Tank gets 120 days in the tabk.

Hopefully his days as a Bears player are numbered.

He'll do about 60 and the Bears have already said he'll be back (after his NFL suspension).

Tank Johnson released from jail

Wearing a red baseball cap and white T-shirt, Johnson walked out of Cook County Jail smiling broadly. He did not speak to reporters before getting into a sports utility vehicle and leaving.

BearSkins wrote:Tank gets 8 days - reduceable to 6 if he can somehow manage to keep himself out of trouble.

If he wasn't past the legal limit, Johnson still faces the charge of "being impaired to the slightest degree," according to Duncan.

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?????